AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
by and among
KIMBALL ELECTRONICS
MANUFACTURING, INC.
GATOR ELECTRONICS,
INC.
and
REPTRON ELECTRONICS,
INC.
Dated as of December 18,
2006
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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THE MERGER
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1
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1.1
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The
Merger
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1
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1.2
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Effective Time;
Closing
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1
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1.3
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Effect of the
Merger
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2
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1.4
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Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of Surviving Corporation
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2
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1.5
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Directors and
Officers of Surviving Corporation
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2
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1.6
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Effect on
Capital Stock
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3
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1.7
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Dissenting
Shares.
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4
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1.8
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Surrender of
Certificates
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5
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1.9
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No Further
Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock
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6
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1.10
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Lost, Stolen or
Destroyed Certificates
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6
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1.11
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Adjustments
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7
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1.12
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Taking of
Necessary Action; Further Action
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7
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ARTICLE II
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REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
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7
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2.1
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Organization
and Qualification
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7
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2.2
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Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws
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8
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2.3
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Capitalization
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9
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2.4
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Authority
Relative to this Agreement
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10
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2.5
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No Conflict;
Required Filings and Consents
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11
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2.6
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Compliance;
Permits
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12
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2.7
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SEC Filings;
Financial Statements
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12
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2.8
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No Undisclosed
Liabilities
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15
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2.9
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Absence of
Certain Changes or Events
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15
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2.10
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Absence of
Litigation
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16
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2.11
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Employee
Benefit Plans
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16
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2.12
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Proxy
Statement
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21
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2.13
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Restrictions on
Business Activities
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21
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2.14
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Title to
Property
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21
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2.15
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Taxes
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23
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2.16
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Environmental
Matters
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25
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-i-
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
(continued)
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Page
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2.17
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Brokers; Third
Party Expenses
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27
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2.18
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Intellectual
Property
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27
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2.19
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Contracts
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29
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2.20
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Insurance
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31
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2.21
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Customers and
Suppliers; Sales
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32
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2.22
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Pre-Bankruptcy
Liabilities
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33
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2.23
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Inventory
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33
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2.24
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Opinion of
Financial Advisor
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33
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2.25
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Board
Approval
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33
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2.26
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State Takeover
Statutes
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33
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2.27
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Interested
Party Transactions
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33
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ARTICLE III
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REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
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34
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3.1
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Corporate
Organization
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34
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3.2
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Authority
Relative to this Agreement
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34
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3.3
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No Conflict;
Required Filings and Consents
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34
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3.4
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Proxy
Statement
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35
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3.5
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Sufficient
Funds
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35
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3.6
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No Prior Merger
Sub Operations
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35
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3.7
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Advisors’
and Brokers’ Fees
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35
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3.8
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No Share
Ownership
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35
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ARTICLE IV
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CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE
EFFECTIVE TIME
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36
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4.1
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Conduct of
Business by Company
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36
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ARTICLE V
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ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
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41
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5.1
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Proxy
Statement
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41
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5.2
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Meeting of
Company Stockholders
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42
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5.3
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Confidentiality; Access to
Information
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43
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5.4
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No
Solicitation
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43
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5.5
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Public
Disclosure
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47
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5.6
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Reasonable
Efforts; Notification
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47
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
(continued)
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Page
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5.7
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Third Party
Consents and Notices
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48
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5.8
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Director’s and Officer’s Insurance
and Indemnification
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49
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5.9
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Regulatory
Filings
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49
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5.10
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Termination of
Certain Benefit Plans
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51
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5.11
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Employee
Benefits
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51
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5.12
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Section 16
Matters
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51
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5.13
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Cash Deposit by
Parent
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52
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5.14
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Debt Tender
Offer
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52
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ARTICLE VI
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CONDITIONS TO THE
MERGER
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53
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6.1
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Conditions to
Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger
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53
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6.2
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Additional
Conditions to Obligations of the Company
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53
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6.3
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Additional
Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub
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54
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6.4
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Dissenting
Shares
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54
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6.5
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Company Bonds
Irrevocably Tendered
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54
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6.6
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Third-Party
Obligations
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55
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ARTICLE VII
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TERMINATION, AMENDMENT
AND WAIVER
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55
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7.1
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Termination
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55
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7.2
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Notice of
Termination; Effect of Termination
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57
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7.3
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Fees and
Expenses
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58
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7.4
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Amendment
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60
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7.5
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Extension;
Waiver
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60
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ARTICLE VIII
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GENERAL
PROVISIONS
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61
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8.1
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Non-Survival of
Representations and Warranties
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61
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8.2
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Notices
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61
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8.3
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Interpretation;
Knowledge
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62
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8.4
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Counterparts
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63
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8.5
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Entire
Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries
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63
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8.6
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Severability
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64
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8.7
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Other Remedies;
Specific Performance
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64
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8.8
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Governing
Law
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64
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8.9
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Rules of
Construction
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64
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8.10
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Assignment
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65
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8.11
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Waiver of Jury
Trial
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65
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INDEX OF EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A
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Form of
Articles of Incorporation of Surviving Corporation
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Exhibit B
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Form of Bylaws
of Surviving Corporation
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Exhibit C
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Form of Joint
Press Release
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER is
made and entered into as of December 18, 2006 (the “
Agreement ”), by and among KIMBALL ELECTRONICS
MANUFACTURING, INC., an Indiana corporation (“ Parent
”), GATOR ELECTRONICS, INC, a Florida corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“ Merger Sub
”), and REPTRON ELECTRONICS, INC, a Florida corporation (the
“ Company ”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with the
Florida Business Corporation Act, Parent, Merger Sub and the
Company will enter into a business combination transaction pursuant
to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company;
and
WHEREAS, each of the Boards of
Directors of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company have each
determined that it is in the best interests of their respective
stockholders for Parent to acquire the Company upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein.
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of
the Company (the “ Board ”) has unanimously
(i) determined that the Merger (as defined in
Section 1.1 ) is advisable and fair to, and in the best
interests of, the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved
this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (collectively, the “ Transactions ”),
and (iii) has resolved to recommend the approval of the Merger
and the adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of the
Company.
WHEREAS, each of the Board of
Directors of Parent and Merger Sub have determined that the Merger
is advisable and fair to, and in the best interest of, Parent and
Merger Sub and their respective stockholders and the Board of
Directors of Parent has resolved to adopt this Agreement, and the
Transactions.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the covenants, promises and representations set forth herein, and
for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1 The Merger . At the
Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2 ) and subject
to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the applicable provisions of the Florida Business
Corporation Act (the “ Florida Business Corporation
Act ”), Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the
Company (the “ Merger ”), the separate corporate
existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue
as the surviving corporation. The Company, as the surviving
corporation after the Merger, is hereinafter sometimes referred to
as the “ Surviving Corporation .”
1.2 Effective Time; Closing .
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the
parties hereto shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing
articles of merger (the “Articles
-1-
of Merger ”) with the Secretary of State of the
State of Florida in accordance with the relevant provisions of the
Florida Business Corporation Act (the time of such filing, or such
later time as may be agreed in writing by the Company and Parent
and specified in the Articles of Merger, being the “
Effective Time ”), as soon as practicable after the
Closing (as defined below) and on the Closing Date (as herein
defined). The closing of the Merger (the “ Closing
”) shall take place at the offices of Squire,
Sanders & Dempsey, L.L.P., 201 N. Franklin Street, Suite
2100, Tampa, Florida 33602, at a time and date to be specified by
the parties hereto, which shall be no later than the fifth business
day after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in
Article VI (other than those conditions, which by their
terms, are to be satisfied or waived on the Closing Date, but
subject to the satisfaction or waiver thereof), or at such other
time, date and location as the parties hereto agree in writing (the
“ Closing Date ”).
1.3 Effect of the Merger . At
the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided
in this Agreement, the Articles of Merger and the applicable
provisions of the Florida Business Corporation Act. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at
the Effective Time, all of the assets, properties, rights,
privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub
shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all of the debts,
liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of the Company
and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations,
restrictions and duties of the Surviving Corporation.
1.4 Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws of Surviving Corporation .
(a) Articles of Incorporation
. As of the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of Merger Sub or the Company, the Articles of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended and
restated to read in its entirety in the form of Exhibit A
and, as so amended, shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation, subject to Section 5.8 , until
thereafter amended in accordance with the terms of such Articles of
Incorporation and the law; provided, however , that as of
the Effective Time, the Articles of Incorporation shall provide
that the name of the Surviving Corporation is “Gator
Electronics, Inc.”
(b) Bylaws . As of the
Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on
the part of Merger Sub or the Company, the Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation shall be amended and restated in the form of Exhibit
B to read the same as the Bylaws of Merger Sub, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, subject to
Section 5.8 , until thereafter amended in accordance
with the law, the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation and such Bylaws; provided, however , that all
references in such Bylaws to Merger Sub shall be amended to refer
to “Gator Electronics, Inc.”
1.5 Directors and Officers of
Surviving Corporation .
(a) Directors . The initial
directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be the directors of
Merger Sub as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, until
their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and
qualified.
(b) Officers . The initial
officers of the Surviving Corporation shall be the officers of
Merger Sub as of immediately prior to the Effective
Time.
-2-
1.6 Effect on Capital Stock .
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at
the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action
on the part of Merger Sub, the Company or the holders of any of the
following securities, the following shall occur:
(a) Conversion of Shares .
Each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company (“ Company Common Stock ”) issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any
shares of Company Common Stock to be canceled pursuant to
Section 1.6(b) and any Dissenting Shares, as defined in
Section 1.7 ), will be canceled and extinguished and
automatically converted into the right to receive, upon surrender
of the certificate(s) representing such Company Common Stock in the
manner provided in Section 1.8 (or in the case of a
lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, upon delivery of an
affidavit, and bond, if required, in the manner provided in
Section 1.10 ), cash in the amount of $0.68 (the
“ Per Share Merger Consideration ” and the
aggregate of all Per Share Merger Consideration in respect of all
Company Common Stock entitled thereto and the aggregate amount of
cash to be issued to holders of In-the-Money Options (as defined in
Section 1.6(d)(ii) pursuant to
Section 1.6(d) , the “ Merger
Consideration ”). If any shares of Company Common Stock
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time are unvested or
are subject to a repurchase option, risk of forfeiture or other
condition under any applicable restricted stock purchase agreement
or other agreement with the Company (“ Unvested Shares
”), then the portion of the Merger Consideration issued in
exchange for such Unvested Shares shall also be unvested and
subject to the same repurchase option, risk of forfeiture or other
condition. The portion of the Merger Consideration payable upon
conversion of any Unvested Share shall be withheld by the Paying
Agent and paid by the Paying Agent to each such holder in
accordance with the vesting and other provisions set forth in the
applicable restricted stock purchase agreement, if
applicable.
(b) Cancellation of Treasury and
Parent-Owned Shares . All Company Common Stock held by the
Company or owned by Merger Sub, Parent or any direct or indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company or of Parent immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and extinguished
without any conversion thereof.
(c) Capital Stock of Merger
Sub . Each share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share,
of Merger Sub (the “ Merger Sub Common Stock ”)
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be converted into one validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
the Surviving Corporation. Each certificate evidencing ownership of
shares of Merger Sub Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall evidence ownership of such shares of
capital stock of the Surviving Corporation.
-3-
(d) Stock Options . At the
Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on
the part of any holder of outstanding options to purchase Company
Common Stock (the “ Company Stock Options ”),
each Company Stock Option, whether vested or unvested, and all
stock option plans or other equity-related plans of the Company,
including the Gator Electronics, Inc. Stock Option Plan (as may be
amended from time to time, the “ Company Stock Plans
”), insofar as they relate to Company Stock Options, shall be
terminated as follows:
(i) At the Effective Time, each
Out-of-the-Money Option (as defined below) shall be terminated in
its entirety without consideration therefor, and the holder of each
Out-of-the-Money Option shall have no further rights thereunder.
Each Company Stock Option that has a per share exercise price
greater than $0.68 and is unexpired, unexercised and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be an “
Out-of-the-Money Option .”
(ii) At the Effective Time, each
In-the-Money Option (as defined below) shall, on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, terminate in
its entirety and the holder of each In-the-Money Option shall be
entitled to receive that amount of cash that is equal to the
product of the number of shares of Company Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of such In-the-Money Option immediately prior to
the Effective Time, multiplied by the excess by which $0.68 exceeds
the per share exercise price of such In-the-Money Option. Each
Company Stock Option that has a per share exercise price less than
$0.68 and is unexpired, unexercised and outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be an “ In-the-Money
Option .” Promptly after the Effective Time (but not
later than three (3) business days after the date on which the
Effective Time occurs), Parent shall pay the In-the-Money Option
holders the Merger Consideration specified in this
Section 1.6(d)(ii) .
1.7 Dissenting Shares
.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, shares of Company Common Stock that
are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and that
are held by stockholders who shall have not voted in favor of the
Merger and who shall have demanded properly in writing appraisal
for such Company Common Stock in accordance with Section 1302
of the Florida Business Corporation Act (collectively, the “
Dissenting Shares ”) shall not be converted into, or
represent the right to receive, the Per Share Merger Consideration
payable for each such share of Company Common Stock. Such
stockholders shall be entitled to receive payment of the appraised
value of such Company Common Stock held by them in accordance with
the provisions of such Section 1302, except that all
Dissenting Shares held by stockholders who shall have failed to
perfect or who effectively shall have withdrawn or lost their
rights to appraisal of such Company Common Stock under such
Section 1302 shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted
into, and to have become exchangeable for, as of the Effective
Time, the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration
payable for each such share of Company Common Stock, upon
surrender, in the manner provided in Section 1.8 , of
the certificate or certificates that formerly evidenced such
Company Common Stock.
-4-
(b) The Company shall give Parent
(i) prompt notice of any demands for appraisal received by the
Company, withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments
served pursuant to the Florida Business Corporation Act and
received by the Company and (ii) the opportunity to direct all
negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal
under the Florida Business Corporation Act. The Company shall not,
except with the prior written consent of Parent (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld), make any payment with respect
to any demands for appraisal or offer to settle or settle any such
demands.
1.8 Surrender of Certificates
.
(a) Paying Agent . Prior to
the Effective Time, Parent shall select a bank or trust company
reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as agent (the “
Paying Agent ”) for the benefit of the holders of
Company Common Stock and In-the-Money Options to receive the
portion of the Merger Consideration to which holders of Company
Common Stock and In-the-Money Options shall become entitled
pursuant to Section 1.6(a) and
Section 1.6(d)(ii) .
(b) Exchange Procedures .
Promptly after the Effective Time (but not later than five
(5) business days after the date on which the Effective Time
occurs), Parent shall cause the Paying Agent to mail to each holder
of record (as of the Effective Time) of Company Common Stock,
including holders of a certificate or certificates (the “
Certificates ”) which immediately prior to the
Effective Time represented the outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock converted into the right to receive the portion of the Merger
Consideration payable for such Company Common Stock, (i) a
letter of transmittal in customary form and approved by the Company
prior to the Effective Time (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed) (which shall specify that
delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the
Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to
the Paying Agent and shall contain such other provisions as Parent
and the Company shall reasonably agree) and (ii) instructions
for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange
for the portion of the Merger Consideration payable upon surrender
of said Certificates. Upon surrender of Certificates for
cancellation to the Paying Agent or to such other agent or agents
as may be appointed by Parent, together with such letter of
transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with
the instructions thereto (or, if such shares are held in book-entry
or other uncertified form, upon the entry through a book-entry
transfer agent or the surrender of such Company Common Stock on a
book entry statement (it being understood that any references
herein to “Certificates” shall be deemed to include
references to book-entry account statements.), the holders of such
Certificates formerly representing the Company Common Stock shall
be entitled to receive an amount of cash (payable by check) equal
to the Per Share Merger Consideration multiplied by the number of
shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such
Certificate or Certificates, and the Certificates so surrendered
shall forthwith be canceled. Until so surrendered, outstanding
Certificates shall be deemed from and after the Effective Time, for
all corporate purposes, to evidence only the ownership of the
respective portion of the Merger Consideration to which the record
holder of such Certificate is entitled by virtue thereof. Promptly
following surrender of any such Certificates and the duly executed
letters of transmittal, the Paying Agent shall deliver to the
record holders thereof, without interest, the portion of the Merger
Consideration to which such holder is entitled upon surrender of
said Certificates, subject to the restrictions set forth
herein.
-5-
(c) Payments with respect to
Unsurrendered Company Common Stock; No Liability . At any time
after twelve (12) months following the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to require the Paying Agent
to deliver to it any funds which had been made available to the
Paying Agent and not disbursed to holders of Company Common Stock
(including all interest and other income received by the Paying
Agent in respect of all funds made available to it), and,
thereafter, such holders shall be entitled to look to Parent
(subject to abandoned property, escheat and other similar laws)
only as general creditors thereof with respect to any portion of
the Merger Consideration that may be payable upon due surrender of
the Certificates held by them. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none
of Parent, the Surviving Corporation nor the Paying Agent shall be
liable to any former holder of Company Common Stock for any portion
of the Merger Consideration properly delivered in respect of such
Company Common Stock to a public official pursuant to any abandoned
property, escheat or other similar law.
(d) Transfers of Ownership .
If the payment of the portion of the Merger Consideration to which
such holder is entitled is to be paid to a person other than the
person in whose name the Certificates surrendered in exchange
therefor are registered, it will be a condition of payment that the
Certificates so surrendered be properly endorsed and otherwise in
proper form for transfer (including, if requested by Parent or the
Paying Agent, a medallion guarantee), and that the persons
requesting such payment will have paid to Parent or any agent
designated by it any transfer or other taxes required by reason of
the payment of a portion of the Merger Consideration to a person
other than the registered holder of the Certificates surrendered,
or established to the satisfaction of Parent or any agent
designated by it that such tax has been paid or is not
applicable.
(e) Required Withholding .
Each of the Paying Agent, Parent and the Surviving Corporation
shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration
payable or otherwise deliverable pursuant to this Agreement to any
holder or former holder of the Company Common Stock such amounts as
may be required to be deducted or withheld therefrom under the Code
or under any provision of state or local tax law or under any other
applicable legal requirement. To the extent such amounts are so
deducted or withheld, such amounts shall be treated for all
purposes under this Agreement as having been paid to the person to
whom such amounts would otherwise have been paid
.
1.9 No Further Ownership Rights
in Company Common Stock . Payment of the Merger Consideration
shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all
rights pertaining to the Company Common Stock, and after the
Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers
on the records of the Surviving Corporation of the Company Common
Stock which were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to
the Surviving Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled
and exchanged as provided in this Article I .
1.10 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed
Certificates . In the event that any Certificates shall have
been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Paying Agent shall pay in
exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates, upon the
making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof, the
portion of the Merger
-6-
Consideration payable with respect thereto;
provided, however , that Parent or the Paying Agent may, in
its discretion and as a condition precedent to the payment of such
portion of the Merger Consideration, require the owner of such
lost, stolen or destroyed Certificates to deliver a bond in such
reasonable and customary amount as it may direct as indemnity
against any claim that may be made against Parent, the Surviving
Corporation or the Paying Agent with respect to the Certificates
alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
1.11 Adjustments . In the
event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend
(including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible
into Company Common Stock, whether directly or indirectly),
reorganization, reclassification, combination, recapitalization or
other like change with respect to the Company Common Stock
occurring after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Effective Time, all references in this Agreement to specified
numbers of shares of any class or series affected thereby, and all
calculations provided for that are based upon numbers of shares of
any class or series (or trading prices therefor) affected thereby,
shall be equitably adjusted to the extent necessary to provide the
parties the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement
prior to such stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend,
reorganization, reclassification, combination, recapitalization or
other like change.
1.12 Taking of Necessary Action;
Further Action . If, at any time after the Effective Time, any
further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes
of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full
right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights,
privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub,
the officers and directors of the Company and Merger Sub will take
all such lawful and necessary action.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
COMPANY
The Company hereby represents and
warrants to Parent and Merger Sub that, except as disclosed in
writing in the disclosure letter supplied by the Company to Parent,
dated as of the date hereof (the “ Company Disclosure
Letter ”), the statements contained in this Article
II are true, correct and complete as of the date of this
Agreement (except where another date is specified); provided
, however , that the mere inclusion of an item on the
Company Disclosure Letter shall not be deemed to be an admission by
the Company that such item is or was material or is or was required
to be disclosed therein. Subject only to such exceptions as are set
forth in the Company Disclosure Letter (which exceptions shall
reference the specific section and, if applicable, subsection
number of this Article II to which it applies, and any
information disclosed in any such section or subsection shall be
deemed to be disclosed only for purposes of such section or
subsection, except to the extent is reasonably apparent that the
disclosure contained in such section or subsection contains enough
information regarding the subject matter of other representations
and warranties contained in this Article II so as to qualify
or otherwise apply to such other representations and warranties),
the Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub as
follows:
2.1 Organization and
Qualification .
(a) The Company (and any subsidiary)
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation
and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease
and operate its assets and properties
-7-
and to carry on its business as it
is now being conducted. The Company (and any subsidiary) is in
possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses,
permits, easements, consents, certificates, approvals and orders
(“ Approvals ”) necessary to own, lease and
operate the properties it purports to own, operate or lease and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where
the failure to have such Approvals has not had, and would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company (as defined in
Section 8.3(c) ).
(b) The Company has no subsidiaries
and does not own any shares of capital stock or other securities of
any other person, except for such subsidiaries or persons, if any,
so identified in Section_2.1(b) of the Company Disclosure
Letter (which disclosure, if any, also sets forth the form of
ownership and percentage voting and/or equity interest of the
Company in any such person). Except as set forth in
Section 2.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has agreed to make
nor is obligated to make nor is bound by any written or oral,
agreement, contract, subcontract, lease, mortgage, indenture,
understanding, arrangement, instrument, note, bond, option,
warranty, purchase order, license, sublicense, insurance policy, or
other legally binding instrument, obligation or commitment or
undertaking of any nature (a “ Contract ”), in
effect as of the date hereof or as may hereafter be in effect under
which it may become obligated to make, any future investment in or
capital contribution to any other person or any sale or other
disposition of the capital stock or any of the assets or operations
(except for sales of assets in the ordinary course of business) of
any such person. Except as set forth in Section_2.1(b) of
the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries directly or indirectly owns any equity or similar
interest in or any interest convertible, exchangeable or
exercisable for, any equity or similar interest in, any
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture
or other business, association or entity.
(c) The Company and each of its
subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation, and is in good standing, under the laws of all
jurisdictions where the character of the properties owned, leased
or operated by it or the nature of its activities makes such
qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so
qualified and in good standing has not had, and would not
reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
Section_2.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a
true and complete list of each state in which the Company and each
of its subsidiaries is qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation.
2.2 Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws . The Company has previously furnished or made available
to Parent (i) a complete and correct copy of its Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws as amended to date
(together, the “ Company Charter Documents ”)
and (ii) the equivalent organizational documents for any
subsidiary of the Company, each as amended to date. The Company
Charter Documents (and equivalent organizational documents of any
subsidiary of the Company) are in full force and effect. Except as
set forth in Section 2.2 of the Company Disclosure
Letter, the minute books (containing the records of meetings of the
stockholders, the board of directors, and any committees of the
board of directors), of the Company reflect all material action
taken and authorizations made at such meetings, and the Company has
delivered to the Parent copies of all such items (except for
minutes and consents of the Company’s Board of Directors or
any committee thereof relating to the transaction contemplated
hereby). The Company (or any subsidiary of the Company) is not in
violation of any of the provisions of the Company Charter Documents
(or any equivalent organizational documents).
-8-
2.3 Capitalization
.
(a) The authorized capital stock of
the Company consists of 50,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock, par value of $0.01 per share (“ Company Preferred
Stock ”). At the close of business on September 30,
2006, (i) 5,020,000 shares of Company Common Stock were issued
and outstanding, all of which are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable; (ii) no shares of Company Common Stock were
held by any subsidiary of the Company; (iii) no shares of
Company Common Stock were held in treasury by the Company or by any
subsidiary of the Company; (iv) 500,000 shares of Company
Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of
options to purchase Company Common Stock under the Company Stock
Plans. As of the date hereof, no shares of Company Preferred Stock
were issued or outstanding. Section_2.3(a) of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth the following information with respect
to each Company Stock Option or grant of Unvested Shares, as
applicable, outstanding as of the date of this Agreement:
(i) the name of the optionee or holder; (ii) the number
of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock
Option or grant of Unvested Shares; (iii) the exercise price
of such Company Stock Option; (iv) the date on which such
Company Stock Option or Unvested Shares was granted; (v) the
applicable vesting schedule and the vesting of the forfeiture
provisions for the Unvested Shares; (vi) the date on which
such Company Stock Option expires; (vii) whether the
exercisability of such Company Stock Option or vesting of such
Unvested Shares will be accelerated in any way by the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, and indicates the extent of
acceleration; and (viii) whether such Company Stock Option is
intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning
of Section 422 of the Code. All shares of Company Common Stock
subject to issuance upon exercise of such Company Stock Options,
upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the
instrument pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as
set forth in Section 2.3(a) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, there are no commitments or agreements of any character to
which the Company is bound obligating the Company to accelerate the
vesting of any Company Stock Option or Unvested Share as a result
of the Transactions or upon termination of employment or service of
any person with the Company or with any of its subsidiaries
following the Merger or otherwise. All outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock, all outstanding Company Stock Options and all
outstanding shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the
Company have been issued and granted in compliance with all
applicable securities laws and other applicable Legal Requirements
(as defined below). All repurchases of Company Common Stock have
been made in compliance with all applicable Legal Requirements. For
the purposes of this Agreement, “ Legal Requirements
” means any federal, state, local, municipal, or other law,
statute, legislation, constitution, principle of common law,
resolution, ordinance, code, edict, order, judgment, decree, rule,
regulation, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted,
promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under
the authority of any Governmental Entity (as defined in
Section 2.5(b) hereof), including, without limitation,
the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938, as amended (the
“ FDCA ”), and the regulations of the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (the “ FDA ”)
promulgated thereunder. There are no declared or accrued but unpaid
dividends with respect to any shares of Company Common
Stock.
-9-
(b) Except as set forth in
Section 2.3(a) , there are no subscriptions, options,
warrants, equity securities, partnership interests or similar
ownership interests, calls, rights (including preemptive rights),
commitments or agreements of any character to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is bound obligating the Company or any of its
subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued,
delivered or sold, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or
cause the repurchase, redemption or acquisition of, any shares of
capital stock, partnership interests or similar ownership interests
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or obligating the Company
or any of its subsidiaries to grant, extend or enter into any such
subscription, option, warrant, equity security, call, right,
commitment or agreement. Except as disclosed in
Section 2.3(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there
are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock,
profit participation, or other similar rights with respect to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries. There are no voting trusts,
proxies, rights plans, anti-takeover plans or other agreements or
understandings to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound
with respect to any class of equity security of the Company or with
respect to any equity security, partnership interest or similar
ownership interest of any of its subsidiaries.
(c) True, correct and complete
copies of each of the Company Stock Plans, the standard form of all
agreements and instruments relating to or issued under the Company
Stock Plans or that differ in any material respect from such
standard form agreements, and agreements relating to Unvested
Shares, have been furnished or made available to Parent, and such
agreements and instruments have not been amended, modified or
supplemented since being furnished to Parent, and, except as
contemplated by this Agreement, there are no agreements,
understandings or commitments to amend, modify or supplement such
agreements or instruments in any case from those furnished or made
available to Parent.
2.4 Authority Relative to this
Agreement . The Company has all necessary corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its
obligations hereunder and to consummate the Transactions, subject,
with respect to the Merger, to the Company Stockholder Approval (as
defined below). The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
Company and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions
have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company and no other corporate
proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize
this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions other than
(i) with respect to the Merger, the filing with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) of a proxy
statement with respect to, and the receipt of, the Company
Stockholder Approval (the “ Proxy Statement ”)
if and to the extent required by applicable law, (ii) the
filing of the Articles of Merger as required by the Florida
Business Corporation Act, and (iii) such filings as may be
required under, and in compliance with the other applicable
requirements of, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1976, as amended (the “ HSR Act ”) and any
other applicable Antitrust Law (as hereinafter defined). The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of
Company Common Stock issued and outstanding on the record date set
for the meeting of the Company’s stockholders to adopt this
Agreement at which a quorum is present in accordance with
applicable law is the only vote of the holders of capital stock of
the Company necessary to adopt this Agreement under applicable
Legal
-10-
Requirements and the Company Charter Documents
(the “ Company Stockholder Approval ”). This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery
by Parent and Merger Sub, constitutes the legal and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws relating to
creditors’ rights and general principles of
equity.
2.5 No Conflict; Required Filings
and Consents .
(a) Except as set forth in
Section 2.5(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company does not,
and the performance of this Agreement by the Company will not,
(i) result in the creation of any material Encumbrance (as
defined below) on any of the material properties or assets of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) conflict with or
violate the Company Charter Documents or the equivalent
organizational documents of any of the Company’s
subsidiaries, (iii) subject, (A) with respect to the
Merger, to the Company Stockholder Approval and (B) to
compliance with the requirements set forth in
Section 2.4 , conflict with or violate in any material
respect any Legal Requirements applicable to the Company or any of
its subsidiaries or by which its or any of their respective
properties is bound or affected, or (iv) conflict with or
violate, or result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an
event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a
default) under, or materially impair the Company’s or any of
its subsidiaries’ rights or alter the rights or obligations
of any third party under, or give to others any rights of
termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any
Company Contract to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its
or any of their respective properties are bound or affected, except
to the extent such conflict, violation, breach, default, impairment
or other effect would not in the case of clauses (iii) or
(iv), individually or in the aggregate: (A) reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Company; or
(B) prevent or materially delay consummation of the
Transactions or otherwise prevent the Company from performing its
obligations under this Agreement. “ Encumbrance
” means, with respect to any asset, mortgage, deed of trust,
lien, pledge, charge, security interest, title retention device,
conditional sale or other security arrangement, collateral
assignment, claim, charge, adverse claim of title, ownership or
right to use, restriction or other encumbrance of any kind in
respect of such asset (including any restriction on (1) the
voting of any security or the transfer of any security or other
asset, (2) the receipt of any income derived from any asset,
(3) the use of any asset, and (4) the possession,
exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any
asset), in each case except for such restrictions of general
application under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“ Securities Act ”) and Blue Sky Laws (as
defined below).
(b) The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by the Company does not, and the performance of this
Agreement by the Company shall not, require any consent, approval,
authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any
court, administrative agency, commission, governmental or
regulatory authority (a “ Governmental Entity
”), except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “
Exchange Act ”), state securities laws (“
Blue Sky Laws ”) and state takeover laws, such filings
as may be required under, and compliance with the other applicable
requirements of
-11-
the HSR Act or other applicable
Antitrust Laws, and the filing and recordation of the Articles of
Merger as required by the Florida Business Corporation Act and
(ii) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals,
authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or
notifications, (A) would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company or, following the Effective Time, Parent, or prevent
consummation of the Transactions or (B) otherwise prevent the
Company from performing its obligations under this
Agreement.
2.6 Compliance; Permits
.
(a) Except as set forth in
Section 2.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in conflict
with, or in default or violation of, (i) any Legal Requirement
applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including the
FDCA and the FDA regulations) or by which its or any of their
respective properties is bound, or (ii) any Company Contract
to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or any of their
respective properties is bound or affected.
(b) The Company (or any subsidiary)
holds all material permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, orders
and approvals from Governmental Entities (including the FDA) which
are required for the operation of the business and the holding of
the properties of the Company (or any such subsidiary), including
those relating to Environmental and Safety Laws (as defined in
Section 2.16(a) ) and Hazardous Materials Activities
(as defined in Section 2.16(b) ) (each, a “
Company Permit ” and collectively, the “
Company Permits ”). The Company Permits are valid and
in full force and effect, and the Company (or any subsidiary) is in
compliance in all material respects with all covenants, terms and
conditions of such Company Permits. To the knowledge of the
Company, no circumstances exist which could cause any such Company
Permits to be revoked, modified, or rendered non-renewable (other
than for failure to pay a required permit fee).
Section 2.6(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets
forth all of the Company Permits held by the Company (or any
subsidiary).
2.7 SEC Filings; Financial
Statements .
(a) The Company has filed or
furnished each form, report, schedule, registration statement and
definitive proxy statement required to be filed or furnished by the
Company with or under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (the
“ SEC Reports ”). Except as set forth in
Section 2.7(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, since
February 4, 2003 the SEC Reports (i) were filed or
furnished on a timely basis, (ii) were prepared in material
compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, as the case may be, and (iii) did not at the
time they were filed (and if amended or superseded by a filing
prior to the date of this Agreement then on the date of such
filing) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. None of the
Company’s subsidiaries is required to file or furnish any
reports or other documents with the SEC.
-12-
(b) Each set of consolidated
financial statements (including, in each case, any related notes
thereto) contained in the SEC Reports (the “ Financial
Statement s”) (including any Company SEC Report filed
after the date of this Agreement): (i) complied and will
comply as to form in all material respects with the published rules
and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto in effect at the
time of such filing; (ii) was and will be prepared in
accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles (“ GAAP ”) applied on a consistent
basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated
in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited statements, may
not contain footnotes as permitted by Form 10-Q) and fairly
presented and will fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries at the respective dates thereof and the consolidated
results of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’
operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, except that
the unaudited interim financial statements were or are subject to
normal year-end adjustments which were not or will not be material
in amount or significance. Except as reflected in the Financial
Statements, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a
party to any material off-balance sheet arrangement (as defined in
Item 303 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities
Act (“ Regulation S-K ”)). All reserves that are
set forth in or reflected in the Interim Balance Sheet (as defined
below) have been established in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied. At September 30, 2006 (the “ Interim Balance
Sheet Date ”), there were no material loss contingencies
(as such term is used in Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 5 (“ Statement No. 5 ”) issued by
the Financial Accounting Standards Board in March 1975) that are
not adequately provided for in the balance sheet as of the Interim
Balance Sheet Date (the “ Interim Balance Sheet
”) as required by Statement No. 5. The Financial Statements
comply in all material respects with the requirements of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Statement
of Position 97-2. The Company has not had any dispute with any of
its auditors regarding accounting matters or policies during any of
its past three full fiscal years or during the current fiscal
year-to-date requiring public reporting, a report to the audit
committee or is otherwise material. The books and records of the
Company and each of its subsidiaries have been, and are being
maintained in all material respects in accordance with applicable
legal and accounting requirements.
(c) The Company has previously
furnished to Parent a complete and correct copy of any amendments
or modifications, which have not yet been filed with the SEC but
which are required to be filed, to agreements, documents or other
instruments which previously had been filed by the Company with the
SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
(d) The Company has established and
maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as
defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the
Exchange Act) that are reasonably designed to ensure that material
information (both financial and non-financial) relating to the
Company and the subsidiaries required to be disclosed by the
Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange
Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time
periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that such
information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s
management, including the principal executive officer and principal
financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as
appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure
and to make the certifications of the principal executive officer
and the
-13-
principal financial officer of the
Company required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002 (“ SOX ”) with respect to such reports. For
purposes of this Agreement, “principal executive
officer” and “principal financial officer” shall
have the meanings given to such terms in SOX. Each of the principal
executive officer of the Company and the principal financial
officer of the Company (or each former principal executive officer
of the Company and each former principal financial officer of the
Company, as applicable) has made all certifications required by
Sections 302 and 906 of SOX and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder with respect to the SEC Reports. Based on
the most recent evaluation by the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and to the best of the
knowledge of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, there are no “significant
deficiencies” in the design or operation of the
Company’s internal controls and procedures which are
reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect the
Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report
financial data or any “material weaknesses” in the
Company’s internal controls. As used in this section, a
“significant deficiency” in controls means a control
deficiency that adversely affects the Company’s ability to
initiate, authorize, record, process, or report external financial
data reliably in accordance with GAAP. A “significant
deficiency” may be a single deficiency or a combination of
deficiencies that results in more than a remote likelihood that a
misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements that is
more than inconsequential will not be prevented or detected. As
used in this section, a “material weakness” in controls
means a significant deficiency, or a combination of significant
deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a
material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements
will not be prevented or detected. To the Company’s
knowledge, there is no fraud, whether or not material, that
involves any Employee (as defined in Section 2.11(a)(v)
) who has a significant role in the Company’s internal
controls and procedures.
(e) To the Company’s
knowledge, each of Kirkland, Russell, Murphy & Tapp and
Grant Thornton LLP (each, an “ Independent Auditor
”), which auditor has expressed its opinion, as applicable,
with respect to the financial statements of the Company and its
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005, December 31,
2004 and December 31, 2003 and for each of the fiscal years in
the three fiscal year period ended December 31, 2005 included
in the SEC Reports (including the related notes), is
“independent” (under applicable rules then in effect)
with respect to the Company (and any subsidiary) within the meaning
of Regulation S-X since the appointment of each Independent Auditor
in that capacity. The Company is in compliance with the applicable
criteria of eligibility for continued quotation of the Company
Common Stock on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (the “
OTCBB ”) and has not received any notice from the
National Association of Securities Dealers asserting any
non-compliance with such rules and regulations.
(f) Except as set forth on
Section 2.7(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no
Employee or attorney representing the Company (or any subsidiary),
whether or not employed by the Company (or any such subsidiary),
has reported to the Board or any committee thereof or to any
director or officer of the Company evidence of a material violation
of securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent conduct or
similar violation by an Employee or agent (while acting in that
capacity).
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2.8 No Undisclosed
Liabilities . Except as set forth in Section 2.8 of
the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has any liability, indebtedness, obligation, expense,
claim, deficiency, guaranty or endorsement of any type (whether
absolute, accrued, contingent, direct, indirect, or otherwise)
(collectively, “ Liabilities ”) of a nature
required to be disclosed on a balance sheet or in the related notes
to the consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance
with GAAP and which are, individually or in the aggregate with such
other items, material to the business, assets, financial condition,
results of operations or cash flows of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole, except (i) Liabilities
reflected in the Interim Balance Sheet, (ii) Liabilities
incurred since the Interim Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practices and which,
individually or in the aggregate, are not material in nature or
amount and do not result from any breach of Contract, tort or
violation of any Legal Requirement, (iii) Liabilities not
prohibited under Section 4.1 hereof or
(iv) Liabilities incurred in connection with this Agreement or
the Transactions.
2.9 Absence of Certain Changes or
Events . Except as set forth in Section 2.9 of the
Company Disclosure Letter, since the Interim Balance Sheet Date
there has not been, occurred or arisen: (a) any event or
condition of any character that, to the knowledge of the Company,
has had or is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company; (b) any declaration, setting aside or payment
of any dividend on, or other distribution (whether in cash, stock
or property) in respect of, any of the Company’s or any of
its subsidiaries’ capital stock, or any purchase, redemption
or other acquisition by the Company of any of the Company’s
capital stock or any other securities of the Company or its
subsidiaries or any options, warrants, calls or rights to acquire
any such shares or other securities except for repurchases from
Employees following their termination pursuant to the terms of
their pre-existing stock option or purchase agreements;
(c) any split, combination or reclassification of any of the
Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ capital stock;
(d) any granting by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of
any increase in compensation or fringe benefits to any Employee
(except for increases in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice in the base salaries of non-officer Employees in
an amount that does not exceed for four percent (4%) of such
base salaries per employee), of such base salaries per employee),
or any payment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any
bonus (except for bonuses made to current non-officer Employees in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or
pursuant to any bonus plan furnished to Parent), or any entry by
the Company or one of its subsidiaries into any Contract (or
amendment of an existing Contract) to grant or provide severance,
acceleration of vesting, termination pay or other similar benefits;
(e) any change by the Company in its accounting methods,
principles or practices (including any change in depreciation or
amortization policies or rates or revenue recognition policies),
except as required by concurrent changes in GAAP; (f) any
revaluation by the Company of any of its assets, including writing
down the value of capitalized inventory or writing off notes or
accounts receivable or any sale of assets of the Company other than
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(g) the incurring, creation or assumption of any material
Encumbrance, any discharge of any Encumbrance or material liability
which was not shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or incurred in the
ordinary course of business since the Interim Balance Sheet Date,
any material liability or obligation for borrowed money or any
material liability or obligation as guaranty or surety with respect
to the obligations of others; and (h) any announcement of, any
negotiation by or any agreement by the Company, any of its
subsidiaries, or any Employee on behalf of the Company, to do any
of the things described in the preceding clauses (a) through
(h) (other than negotiations or agreements with Parent and
Merger Sub regarding the Transactions).
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2.10 Absence of Litigation .
Except as set forth in Section 2.10 of the Company
Disclosure Letter, there are no claims, actions, suits or
proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
(each, an “ Action ”) against the Company or any
of its subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or, to
the Company’s knowledge, any of the executive officers or
directors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries before any
Governmental Entity or otherwise. Except as set forth in
Section 2.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no
investigation or review by any Governmental Entity is pending or,
to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or
to the Company’s knowledge any of the executive officers or
directors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor has any
Governmental Entity indicated to the Company an intention to
conduct the same. To the knowledge of the Company, no Governmental
Entity has at any time challenged or questioned the legal right of
the Company to conduct its operations as presently or previously
conducted. The Company has furnished to Parent true, correct and
complete copies of all complaints regarding the litigation referred
to in Section 2.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter.
There has not been since January 1, 2003, nor are there
currently, any internal investigations or inquiries being conducted
by the Board (or any committee thereof) or any third party at the
request of the Board, or any Action with respect to, any financial,
accounting, auditing, tax, conflict of interest, illegal activity,
fraudulent or deceptive conduct issues with respect to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries.
2.11 Employee Benefit Plans
.
(a) Definitions . Except as
otherwise provided for herein, for purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(i) “ COBRA ”
shall mean the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1985, as amended;
(ii) “ Code ”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended;
(iii) “ Company Employee
Plan ” shall mean any plan, program, policy, practice,
contract, agreement or other arrangement, providing for
compensation, severance, termination pay, deferred compensation,
performance awards, stock or stock-related awards or purchases,
fringe benefits, loans, or other employee benefits or remuneration
of any kind, whether written or unwritten or otherwise, funded or
unfunded, including each “employee benefit plan,”
within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which is or has
been maintained, contributed to, or required to be contributed to,
by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate for the benefit of any
Employee, and with respect to which the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate has or may have any liability or obligation;
(iv) “ DOL ”
shall mean the U.S. Department of Labor;
(v) “ Employee ”
shall mean any current or former or retired employee, officer,
consultant or director of the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate;
(vi) “ Employment
Agreement ” shall mean each management, employment,
severance, change of control, consulting, relocation, repatriation,
expatriation, visas, work permit or other agreement, contract or
understanding, written or otherwise, between the Company or any
ERISA Affiliate and any Employee;
-16-
(vii) “ ERISA ”
shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended;
(viii) “ ERISA
Affiliate ” shall mean any other person or entity under
common control with the Company within the meaning of
Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code and the
regulations issued thereunder;
(ix) “ FMLA ”
shall mean the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, as
amended;
(x) “ IRS ” shall
mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Service;
(xi) “ Multiemployer
Plan ” shall mean any “Pension Plan” (as
defined below) which is a “multiemployer plan,” as
defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA;
(xii) “ Pension Plan
” shall mean each Company Employee Plan which is an
“employee pension benefit plan,” within the meaning of
Section 3(2) of ERISA.
(b) Schedule .
Section 2.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter
contains an accurate and complete list of each Company Employee
Plan, and each Employment Agreement. Except as set forth on
Section 2.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the
Company does not have any plan or commitment to establish any new
Company Employee Plan or Employment Agreement, to modify any
Company Employee Plan or Employment Agreement (except to the extent
required by applicable law, in each case as previously disclosed to
Parent in writing, or as required by this Agreement), or to adopt
or enter into any Company Employee Plan or Employment Agreement.
The Company has not extended credit, arranged for the extension of
credit, or renewed, modified or forgiven an extension of credit
made prior to such date, in the form of a personal loan to or for
any officer or director of the Company.
(c) Documents . The Company
has furnished or made available to Parent correct and complete
copies of: (i) all documents embodying each Company Employee
Plan, and each Employment Agreement including all amendments
thereto and all related trust documents; (ii) the most recent
annual actuarial valuations and annual and periodic accounting, if
any, prepared for each Company Employee Plan; (iii) the three
(3) most recent annual reports (IRS Form Series 5500 and all
schedules and financial statements attached thereto), if any,
required under ERISA or the Code in connection with each Company
Employee Plan; (iv) the most recent summary plan description
together with the summary(ies) of material modifications thereto,
if any, required under ERISA with respect to each Company Employee
Plan; (v) the most recent IRS determination or opinion letter
issued with respect to each Company Employee Plan, if applicable,
and all applications and correspondence to or from the IRS or the
DOL with respect to any such application or letter; (vi) all
documents provided to any Employee or Employees relating to any
Company Employee Plan in each case, relating to any amendments,
terminations, establishments, increases or decreases in benefits,
acceleration of payments or vesting schedules or other events which
would result in any material liability to the Company;
(vii) all correspondence to or from any governmental agency
relating to any Company Employee Plan; (viii) all
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COBRA forms and related notices (or
such forms and notices as required under comparable law);
(ix) the three (3) most recent plan years discrimination
tests for each Company Employee Plan, where applicable;
(x) all material written agreements and contracts relating to
each Company Employee Plan, including administrative service
agreements and group insurance contracts and group annuity
contracts; and (xi) all registration statements, annual
reports (Form 11-K and all attachments thereto) and prospectuses
prepared in connection with each Company Employee Plan.
(d) Employee Plan Compliance
. To the best of the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its
ERISA Affiliates have performed all material obligations required
to be performed by them under, are not, to the extent material, in
default or violation of, and neither Company nor its ERISA
Affiliates have any knowledge of any default or violation by any
other party to, any Company Employee Plan, and each Company
Employee Plan has been established and maintained in accordance
with its terms and in compliance in all material respects with all
applicable laws, statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including
but not limited to ERISA and the Code. Except as set forth in
Section 2.7112.7(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
to the best of the knowledge of the Company, any Company Employee
Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code
and each trust intended to qualify under Section 501(a) of the
Code (i) has either applied for, prior to the expiration of
the requisite period under applicable U.S. Department of the
Treasury (“ Treasury ”) Regulations or IRS
pronouncements, or obtained a favorable determination,
notification, advisory and/or opinion letter, as applicable, as to
its qualified status from the IRS, and (ii) incorporates or
has been amended to incorporate all provisions required to comply
with the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and subsequent legislation. To the
best of the knowledge of the Company, for each Company Employee
Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of
the Code there has been no event, condition or circumstance that
has adversely affected or could adversely affect the qualified
status of such Company Employee Plan. To the best of the knowledge
of the Company, no material “prohibited transaction,”
within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Sections 406
and 407 of ERISA, and not otherwise exempt under Section 408
of ERISA, has occurred with respect to any Company Employee Plan.
To the best of the knowledge of the Company, there are no actions,
suits or claims pending or, to Company’s or any ERISA
Affiliates’ knowledge, threatened (other than routine claims
for benefits) against any Company Employee Plan or against the
assets of any Company Employee Plan that could reasonably be
expected, individually or in the aggregate, to cause material
liability to the Company. Each Company Employee Plan can be
amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Effective
Time in accordance with its terms, without liability to Parent,
Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates (other than routine
administration expenses incurred with respect to any such
amendment, termination or discontinuance). There are no audits,
inquiries or proceedings pending or to Company’s or any of
its ERISA Affiliates’ knowledge threatened by the IRS, DOL,
or any other Governmental Entity with respect to any Company
Employee Plan. Neither Company nor any ERISA Affiliate is subject
to any material penalty or Tax with respect to any Company Employee
Plan under Section 502(i) of ERISA or Sections 4975 through
4980 of the Code. Company and its ERISA Affiliates have each timely
made all contributions and other payments required by and due under
the terms of each Company Employee Plan to the extent any failure,
individually or in the aggregate, would result in material
Liabilities to the Company.
-18-
(e) No Pension or Welfare
Plans . Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has ever
maintained, established, sponsored, participated in, or contributed
to, or could have any obligation to, any (i) Pension Plan
which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the
Code, or (ii) “funded welfare plan” within the
meaning of Section 419 of the Code. Neither the Company nor
any Company subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate has incurred or expects
to incur any liability under Title IV of ERISA or Section 412
of the Code. Except as set forth on Schedule 2.11 (e), no Company
Employee Plan provides health benefits that are not fully insured
through an insurance contract.
(f) Collectively Bargained,
Multiemployer and Multiple Employer Plans . At no time has the
Company or any Affiliate contributed to or been obligated to
contribute to any Multiemployer Plan. Neither the Company, nor any
Affiliate has at any time ever maintained, established, sponsored,
participated in, or contributed to any multiple employer plan, or
to any plan described in Section 413 of the Code.
(g) Deferred Compensation
Compliance . To the best of the Company’s knowledge and
unless otherwise disclosed on the Company Disclosure Letter, no
compensation shall be includable in the gross income of any
Employee as a result of the application of Section 409A of the
Code.
(h) No Post-Employment
Obligations . Except as set forth in
Section 2.11(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no
Company Employee Plan provides, or reflects or represents any
liability to provide retiree insurance or other benefits to any
person for any reason, except as may be required by COBRA or other
applicable statute, and the Company has never represented, promised
or contracted (whether in oral or written form) to any Employee
(either individually or to Employees as a group) or any other
person that such Employee(s) or other person would be provided with
retiree insurance or other benefits, except to the extent required
by applicable law.
(i) Effect of Transaction
.
(i) Except as set forth in
Section 2.11(i)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
the execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the
Transactions or any termination of employment or service in
connection therewith will not (either alone or upon the occurrence
of any additional or subsequent events) constitute an event under
any Company Employee Plan, Employment Agreement, trust or loan that
will or may result in any payment (whether of severance pay or
otherwise), acceleration, forgiveness of indebtedness, vesting,
distribution, increase in benefits or obligation to fund benefits
with respect to any Employee other than accrued payments (each, a
“ Benefit ”).
(ii) No Benefit could give rise,
directly or indirectly, to the payment of any amount that could
reasonably be expected to be (i) non-deductible to Company
under Section 280G of the Code, (ii) characterized as a
“parachute payment” within the meaning of
Section 280G of the Code or (iii) subject to the excise
Tax under Section 4999 of the Code. The Company is not, nor
has it ever been, a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity
agreement or any other agreement that will require Parent or the
Surviving Corporation to “gross-up” or otherwise
compensate any Employee because of the
-19-
imposition of any excise Tax.
Section 2.11(i)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter
lists as of the date of this Agreement each person who the Company
reasonably believes is, with respect to the Company, any Company
subsidiary and/or any ERISA affiliate, a “disqualified
individual” (within the meaning of Section 280G of the
Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder).
(j) Employment Matters . To
the knowledge of the Company, the Company: (i) is in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal,
state and local laws, rules, regulations and ordinances respecting
employment, employment practices, terms and conditions of
employment, discrimination in employment, worker classification,
and wages, benefits, hours, working conditions and occupational
safety and health and employment practices, in each case, with
respect to Employees; (ii) has withheld and reported all
amounts required by law or by agreement to be withheld and reported
with respect to wages, benefits, salaries and other payments to
Employees; (iii) except for one week accrual of wages, is not
liable for any arrears of wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses,
benefits or other compensation due or any taxes or any penalty for
failure to comply with any of the foregoing; and (iv) is not
liable for any payment to any trust or other fund governed by or
maintained by or on behalf of any governmental authority, with
respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or
other retiree benefits, or other benefits or obligations for
Employees (other than routine payments to be made in the normal
course of business and consistent with past practice). Except as
set forth in Section 2.11(j) of the Company Disclosure
Letter and to the Company’s knowledge, there are no pending,
threatened or reasonably anticipated claims or actions against the
Company under any workers’ compensation policy or long-term
disability policy. Except as set forth in
Section 2.11(j) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the
employment of each Employee is terminable at the will of the
Company or its ERISA Affiliates and any such termination would
result in no liability to the Company or to any ERISA
Affiliate.
(k) Labor . To the knowledge
of the Company, no work stoppage or labor strike against the
Company is pending, threatened or reasonably anticipated. Except as
set forth in Section 2.11(k) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, the Company does not know of any current activities or
proceedings of any labor union to organize any Employees or of any
such activities or proceedings within the preceding three
(3) years. Except as set forth in Section 2.11(k)
of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no actions, suits,
claims, labor disputes or grievances pending, or, to the knowledge
of the Company, threatened or reasonably anticipated relating to
any wage, benefit, medical or family leave, labor, safety or
discrimination matters involving any Employee, including charges of
wage and/or hour violations, unfair labor practices,
discrimination, or wrongful termination complaints. Neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has engaged in any unfair labor
practices within the meaning of the National Labor Relations
Act.
(l) Disability or Other Leave
. The Company has furnished to Parent a list as of the date of this
Agreement showing the number of Employees who are not fully
available to perform work because of disability or other leave and
also lists, with respect to each such Employee, the basis of such
disability or leave.
-20-
(m) WARN Act . To the
knowledge of the Company, the Company has complied with the Workers
Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended
(“ WARN Act ”) and all similar state laws
including applicable provisions of state law. All Liabilities
relating to the employment, termination or employee benefits of any
former Employees previously terminated by the Company or an
Affiliate including all termination pay, severance pay or other
amounts in connection with the WARN Act and all similar state laws
including applicable provisions of the California Labor Code, have
been paid.
(n) Employee Information .
The Company and any subsidiary has furnished or made available to
Parent a true, correct and complete list compiled within ten
(10) days prior to the date of this Agreement of the names of
all current officers, directors, and employees of the Company and
each subsidiary showing each such person’s name, position,
date of hire, and each such person’s annualized salary and
target commission (as applicable), status as exempt/non-exempt,
status as full-/part-time, target bonus(es) and fringe benefits for
the current fiscal year and the most recently completed fiscal
year.
2.12 Proxy Statement . The
Proxy Statement to be sent to the stockholders of the Company in
connection with the Stockholders’ Meeting (as hereinafter
defined) shall not, at the date the Proxy Statement (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) is first mailed to stockholders of
the Company and at the time of the Stockholders’ Meeting,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not false or misleading or necessary to
correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to
the solicitation of proxies, if any, for the Stockholders’
Meeting, which shall have become false or misleading.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation
or warranty with respect to any information supplied by Parent,
Merger Sub or any of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s
representatives in writing for inclusion in the Proxy Statement.
The Proxy Statement shall comply in all material respects as to
form with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
2.13 Restrictions on Business
Activities . Except as set forth in Section 2.13 of
the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no Contract (noncompete or
otherwise), commitment, judgment, injunction, order or decree
binding upon the Company or its subsidiaries or to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party which has or could
reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or
materially impairing any business practice of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, any acquisition of property by the Company or any
of its subsidiaries or the conduct of business by the Company or
any of its subsidiaries as currently conducted.
2.14 Title to Property
.
(a) Owned Real Property .
Section 2.14(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets
forth a complete and accurate list as of the date of this Agreement
of all real property owned by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (the “ Owned Real Estate ”) and the
location of the premises.
(b) Leased Real Property .
Section 2.14(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets
forth a complete and accurate list as of the date of this Agreement
of all real property leased, subleased by or from the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, or otherwise used or occupied
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by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries (the “ Leased Real Estate ” and,
together with the Owned Real Estate, the “ Company Real
Estate ”), the name of the lessor, sublessor, master
lessor and/or lessee, the date and term of the lease, sublease or
other occupancy right and each amendment thereto, and the aggregate
annual rental payable thereunder. Section 2.14(a) of
the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all leases,
lease guaranties, subleases, agreements for the leasing, use or
occupancy of, or otherwise granting a right in or relating to the
Leased Real Estate, including all amendments, terminations and
modifications thereof (the “ Real Estate Leases
”). All such Real Estate Leases are in full force and effect,
are valid and effective in accordance with their respective terms,
and there is not, under any of such leases, any existing default or
event of default (or event which with notice or lapse of time, or
both, would constitute a default) of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, or to the Company’s knowledge, any other party
thereto. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries subleases
any real property to any person or entity other than the Company
and its subsidiaries.
(c) Neither the operations of the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries on the Owned Real Estate nor,
to the Company’s knowledge, such Leased Real Estate, violate
in any material respect any law relating to the particular property
or such operations. Except as set forth in
Section 2.14(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the
Company or its subsidiaries currently occupies all of the Company
Real Estate for the operation of its business and there are no
other parties occupying, or with a right to occupy, the Company
Real Estate. The Company or its subsidiaries has performed all of
their obligations under any termination agreements pursuant to
which the Company or its subsidiaries has terminated any leases or
subleases of real property that are no longer in effect and has no
continuing liability with respect to such terminated real property
leases or subleases. Section 2.14(b) of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all material leasehold
improvements and other material property, plant and equipment,
real, personal and mixed, used or held for use by the Company and
its subsidiaries in their business operations as of the Interim
Balance Sheet Date. Such list sets forth, with respect to such
material property, plant and equipment (including leasehold
improvements) the asset identification, location, acquisition date,
original cost, accumulated depreciation and net book
value.
(d) The Company and each of its
subsidiaries has good and valid title to, or, in the case of leased
properties and assets, valid leasehold interests in, all of its
material tangible properties and assets used or held for use in its
business as of the date of this Agreement, free and clear of all
Encumbrances except for (i) Encumbrances for Taxes (as herein
defined) not yet due and payable or are being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves
have been established, (ii) statutory Encumbrances which arise
in the ordinary course of business, are not material in amount and
do not materially impair the Company’s or its
subsidiaries’ ownership or use of such properties and assets,
(iii) pledges or deposits to secure obligations under
workers’ compensation laws or similar legislation,
(iv) liens securing indebtedness that are reflected on the
Interim Balance Sheet, or (v) defects in title, easements,
restrictive covenants and similar Encumbrances that individually,
or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to materially
impact the Company’s use of the property (each of (i), (ii),
(iii), (iv) and (v) a “ Permitted
Encumbrance ”).
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(e) All the plants, structures,
Company Real Estate and material equipment of the Company and its
subsidiaries, are in good operating condition and repair, ordinary
wear and tear excepted, and are otherwise suitable for the conduct
of business as currently conducted and as presently proposed to be
conducted.
2.15 Taxes .
(a) Definition of Taxes . For
the purposes of this Agreement, “ Tax ” or
“ Taxes ”, means (i) any and all federal,
state and local taxes, assessments and other governmental charges,
duties, impositions and liabilities, including taxes based upon or
measured by gross receipts, income, profits, sales, use and
occupation, and value added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise,
withholding, payroll, recapture, employment, excise and property
taxes, together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed
with respect to such amounts; (ii) any liability for the
payment of any amounts of the type described in clause (i) as
a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined
or unitary group for any period; and (iii) any liability for
the payment of any amounts of the type described in clause
(i) or (ii) as a result of any express or implied
obligation to indemnify any other person or as a result of any
obligations under any agreements or arrangements with any other
person with respect to such amounts and including any liability for
taxes of a predecessor entity.
(b) Tax Returns and Audits
.
(i) Since January 1, 2003, the
Company and each of its subsidiaries have timely filed all federal,
state and local returns, forms, estimates, information statements
and reports (“ Returns ”) relating to Taxes
required to be filed by the Company and each of its subsidiaries
with any Tax authority, except such Returns which are not,
individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company. The
Company and each of its subsidiaries have paid all Taxes shown to
be due on such Returns. All Returns were complete and accurate in
all material respects and have been prepared in all material
respects in compliance with all applicable Legal Requirements. The
earliest Tax period of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for
which the statute of limitations is still open is the [calendar]
year 2003 (the “ Open Date ”). The Company has
made available to Parent correct and complete copies of all United
States federal income and state income and franchise Tax Returns
filed with respect to Tax periods ending on or after the Open Date
and any other Returns with respect to pending or outstanding
matters, all examination reports, closing agreements and statements
of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by the Company or any
of its subsidiaries.
(ii) Except as set forth in
Section 2.15(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been delinquent
in the payment of any material Tax nor is there any material Tax
deficiency outstanding, proposed or assessed against the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, nor has the Company or any of its
subsidiaries executed any unexpired waiver of any statute of
limitations on or extension of any the period for the assessment or
collection of any Tax. For purposes of this
Section 2.15(b)(ii) only, “material Tax”
and “material Tax deficiency” shall mean any individual
Tax or Tax deficiency of an amount greater than $50,000.
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(iii) Except as set forth in
Section 2.15(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
no audit, or pending audit of, or other examination of any Return
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any Tax authority is
presently in progress, nor has the Company or any of its
subsidiaries been notified in writing of any request for such an
audit or other examination.
(iv) No unresolved adjustment
relating to any Returns filed or required to be filed by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries has been proposed in writing,
formally or informally, by any Tax authority to the Company or any
of its subsidiaries or any representative thereof.
(v) Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries has any material liability for any unpaid Taxes
(whether or not shown to be due on any Return) which has not been
accrued for or reserved on the Company’s Interim Balance
Sheet in accordance with GAAP, whether asserted or unasserted,
whether or not shown on any Return, contingent or otherwise, other
than any liability for unpaid Taxes that may have accrued since the
Interim Balance Sheet Date in connection with the operation of the
business of the Company and its subsidiaries in the ordinary
course. There are no claims for Taxes being asserted against the
Company or any of its subsidiaries that have resulted in, and there
are no, Encumbrances with respect to Taxes on any of the assets of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than Encumbrances
which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material, or
customary Encumbrances for Taxes not yet due and
payable.
(vi) Except as set forth on Schedule
2.15(vi) there is no Contract, plan or arrangement to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party as of the date of
this Agreement, including but not limited to the provisions of this
Agreement, covering any Employee that, individually or
collectively, would reasonably be expected to give rise to the
payment of any amount that would not be deductible pursuant to
Sections 404 or 162(m) of the Code.
(vii) Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries is party to or has any obligation under any
tax-sharing, tax indemnity or tax allocation agreement or
arrangement, nor does the Company or any of its subsidiaries have
any liability or potential liability to another party under any
such agreement or arrangement. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has ever been a member of a group filing a
consolidated, unitary, combined or similar Return (other than
Returns which include only the Company and any of its subsidiaries)
under any federal, state or local law. Neither the Company nor any
of its subsidiaries is party to any joint venture, partnership or
other arrangement that could be treated as a partnership for
federal and applicable state or local Tax purposes.
(viii) None of the Company’s
or its subsidiaries’ assets are tax exempt use property
within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code.
(ix) Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries has constituted either a “distributing
corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a
distribution of stock intended to qualify for tax-free treatment
under Section 355 of the Code (x) in the two years
prior
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to the date of this Agreement or
(y) in a distribution which could otherwise constitute part of
a “plan” or “series of related
transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of
the Code) in conjunction with the Transactions.
(x) Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries has consummated, has participated in, or is
currently participating in any transaction which was or is a
“Tax shelter,” “listed transaction” or
“reportable transaction” as defined in Sections 6662,
6662A, 6011, 6012, 6111 or 6707A of the Code or the Treasury
Regulations promulgated thereunder, including, but not limited to,
transactions identified by the IRS by notice, regulation or other
form of published guidance as set forth in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.6011-4(b)(2).
(xi) The Company for itself and for
its subsidiaries has furnished or made available to Parent all
documentation relating to any Tax holidays or related incentives
utilized by the Company. The Company and its subsidiaries are in
compliance with the requirements for such Tax holidays or related
incentives.
(xii) Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries is or has ever been a “United States real
property holding corporation” within the meaning of
Section 897 of the Code.
(xiii) The Company and each of its
subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all
applicable Legal Requirements relating to the payment and
withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to
Sections 1441